Multiple wave clip wraparound hanger

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a multiple clip wraparound garment hanger with a body having two arms extending laterally outward in opposing directions to a first end and a second end, and a hook extending upward from the body for suspending the garment hanger from a support. A first garment clip is secured to the first arm at the first end and a second garment clip is secured to the second arm at the second end. A plurality of wave garment clips is secured to the body inward of the first and second end. Each wave garment clip of the plurality of wave garment clips includes at least one ridge protruding from the clips for securing a garment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to the field of garment hangers, and more specifically to a garment hanger having multiple wave clips for securing and attractively displaying a garment.

2. Description of Related Art

Wraparound garment hangers are so named because a garment wider than the garment hanger, typically, but not exclusively women's undergarments or swimsuit bottoms, is wrapped around the garment hanger and held by clips at the ends of the garment hanger. Therefore, the center portion of the garment is displayed, while reducing the width of the display and advantageously increasing display density. However, the outer portion of the garment beyond the center portion displayed may hang down in an unsightly manner due to the size of the garment.

Accordingly, additional inward clips were added to certain prior art wraparound garment hangers to hold portions of the garment behind the center portion on display. Although traditional clips secure the center portion of a wide garment, such clips fail to attractively secure and display the outer portions of the garment as well. Furthermore, the inward clips of the prior art are substantially rigid and make it difficult to repetitiously secure a large number of garments, which adversely affects the economics of the products.

Therefore, a wraparound garment hanger having wave clips with improved flexibility that can hold the outer portions of a garment neatly behind the center portion of the garment and permits the repetition handling is needed in the art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a multiple clip wraparound garment hanger is provided. The hanger includes a body having a first arm and a second arm extending laterally outward in opposing directions to a first end and a second end, respectively, and a hook extending upward from the body for suspending the garment hanger from a support. A first garment clip is secured to the first arm at the first end and a second garment clip is secured to the second arm at the second end. A plurality of wave garment clips are secured to the body inward of the first and second end. Each wave garment clip of the plurality of wave garment clips includes at least one ridge protruding from the clips for securing a garment. Optionally, the plurality of wave garment clips has a different thickness than the thickness of the body. Optionally, each wave garment clip is substantially flexible and permits deflection in a direction into and out of a plane of the body.

With this arrangement, a garment that is considerably wider than the garment hanger can be accommodated in an efficient and attractive fashion for display. The outer portions of the garment extending beyond the first and second garment clips are wrapped around the back of the garment hanger and held by the plurality of wave garment clips. The flexibility of each wave garment clip makes it easier for a worker to secure the garment to the garment hanger. Furthermore, the compound movement of the first and second garment clips results in the garment receiving channels of the first and second clips first opening to allow the garment to enter, and then closing to securely retain the garment therein. The center portion of the garment is displayed, while reducing the width of the display and advantageously increasing display density. With this arrangement, the outer portions of varying size garments are attractively secured.

Optionally, the plurality of wave garment clips includes a first set of wave garment clips and a second set of wave garment clips separated by an open section and secured to the body inward of the first and second ends, respectively. The first and second sets of wave garment clips are generally positioned under the body and have a different thickness than the body. Each wave garment clip of the first and second sets of wave garment clips has a plurality of ridges extending horizontally therefrom on each side for securing a garment.

Optionally, the first and second garment clips each comprise a vertical support member vertically extending from the first and second arms at the first and second ends, respectively. The first and second garment clips each further comprise a cantilever mount connecting the vertical support member to an inner support member, the inner support member extending vertically vertically down from the body. The first and second garment clips each further comprise a first mouth defined by the vertical support member and the inner support member, wherein the first mouth guides a garment into the first and second garment clips.

Furthermore, the first and second garment clips each comprise a first toothed section disposed along the inner edge of the vertical support member and a second toothed section disposed along an outer edge of the inner support member. In this configuration, the first toothed section and the second toothed section oppose each other to form a garment receiving channel that grasps and retains the garment.

Still furthermore, the first and second garment clips each comprise a web located adjacent the vertical support member to provide additional support when the garment is retained. Each wave garment clip of the plurality of wave garment clips is designed with relatively greater flexibility in a direction into and out of a plane of the body. To accomplish this, the thickness of the plurality of wave garment clips is less than the thickness of the first and second garment clips, and less than the thickness of the body. Additionally, the wave garment clips are designed without a stiffening rib extending along the length of each wave garment clip. The more flexible wave garment clips, each comprising a set of openings, are much easier to open and use, and provide greater flexibility for the insertion of garments. Each wave garment clip extends vertically down from the body to secure portions of the garment wrapped around the garment hanger.

Optionally, the first and second garment clips and the plurality of wave garment clips are integrally molded with the body. Furthermore, the garment hanger is made from at least one injection molded plastic including, for example, styrene, styrene polypropylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, nylon, K resin and acrylics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, advantages and benefits of the present application will be made apparent with reference to the following detailed description and accompanying figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like features across the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a garment hanger according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of a first end of the garment hanger according to the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view, taken along sectional arrows 1-1 in FIG. 2, and illustrates further details of construction of the first and second garment clips and the first set of wave garment clips.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, illustrated is a multiple clip garment hanger 10 (hereinafter “garment hanger”) according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Garment hanger 10 has a body 12, with a first arm 14 and a second arm 16 extending laterally outward in opposing directions to a first end 18 and a second end 20, respectively. A hook 22 extends upward from the body 12 for suspending the garment hanger 10 from a support (not shown). The particular illustrated shapes of the hook 22 and the first and second arms 14, 16 are exemplary only, and may vary in number and shape.

As shown in FIGS. 1-2, a first garment clip 26a and a second garment clip 26 b are secured to the first and second arms 14, 16 at the first and second ends 18, 20, respectively, and are optionally integrally molded with the body 12 and/or the first and second arms 14, 16. A plurality of wave garment clips 27 are secured to the body 12 inward of the first and second ends 18, 20. The plurality of wave garment clips 27 has a different thickness than the body 12. Furthermore, each of the plurality of wave garment clips 27 has a plurality of ridges 28 formed on each side therefrom for securing a garment (not shown). For example, the ridges 28 protrude horizontally from the clips 27 to provide an increased width of the clips 27 at the ridges 28. Furthermore, each ridge 28 extends downwardly to connect an adjacent ridge 28, thereby providing a generally wave-like profile of the clips 27.

The first and second garment clips 26 a, 26 b are preferably double-action clips, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,102 to Tendrup, et al., the complete disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. A double-action clip has a cooperating finger (i.e., a free end) and an opposite member to engage an interposed garment therebetween. The finger is movable into a clearance provided behind it to allow for the bulk of the garment. The flexibility of the finger helps to reduce stresses in the plastic at the connection between the finger and the garment hanger, thus reducing the tendency of rupture at said connection.

As shown in FIGS. 1-2, the first and second garment clips 26 a, 26 b each comprise a vertical support member 30 vertically extending from the first and second arms 14, 16 at the first and second ends 18, 20, respectively. Each of the first and second garment clips 26 a, 26 b also comprise a cantilever mount 32 connecting the vertical support member 30 to an inner support member 36 extending vertically down from the body 12. This configuration forms a first mouth 40 defined by the vertical support member 30 and the inner support member 36, wherein the first mouth 40 guides a garment into the first and second garment clips 26 a, 26 b. In this embodiment, each of the first and second garment clips 26 a, 26 b further comprise a web 35 adjacent to the vertical support member 30. As best shown in FIG. 2, the vertical support member 30 is substantially U-shaped and has a free end 33 supported by the web 35. The web 35 stiffens the vertical support member 30 and decreases movement of the free end 33 in a direction transverse to the plane of the body 12. However, a small amount of transverse deflection is beneficial, especially near the tip 38 of the free end 33, as it reduces the likelihood that the vertical support member 30 will rupture when a garment is inserted therein. Furthermore, the first and second garment clips 26 a, 26 b are relatively inflexible as compared to the plurality of wave garment clips 27, as further described below, and generally resist deflection in the z-direction into and out of the x-y plane of the body 12 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The construction and design are such that as a garment or strap is initially inserted into the mouth 40, the vertical support member 30 rotates about the cantilever mount 32 clockwise and the inner support member 36 rotates about the cantilever mount 32 counterclockwise. During initial insertion of the garment, the vertical support member 30 bends outwardly As the garment slides towards the free end 33 of the vertical support member 30, it causes an outward flexure of the free end 33 of the vertical support member 30. This results in an inward deflection of the vertical support member 30 near the mouth 40 and a closing of the bottom of the vertical support member 30. Accordingly, as a garment is inserted into the first and second garment clips 26 a, 26 b, the compound movement of the vertical support member 30 and the inner support member 36 results in the mouth 40 of the clip first opening to allow the garment to enter, and then closing to securely retain the garment.

Furthermore, each of the first and second garment clips 26 a, 26 b comprise a first toothed section 42 disposed along an inner edge 37 of the vertical support member 30 and a second toothed section 44 disposed along an outer edge 41 of the inner support member 36. The first toothed section 42 and the second toothed section 44 oppose each other to form a garment receiving channel 48 that grasps and retains the garment.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the plurality of wave garment clips 27 will be described in greater detail. In this embodiment, garment hanger 10 comprises a first set of wave garment clips 27 a and a second set of wave garment clips 27 b separated by an open section 31 and secured to the body 12 inward of the first and second ends 18, 20, respectively. As shown best in the enlarged sectional view of FIG. 3, the first and second sets of wave garment clips 27 a, 27 b are generally positioned below the body 12 and have a different thickness (t) than the thickness (T) of the body 12. Each wave garment clip of the first and second sets of wave garment clips 27 a, 27 b is designed to be substantially flexible and to permit deflection in a direction (z-direction) into and out of a plane (x-y plane) of the body 12. However, the first and second sets of wave garment clips 27 a, 27 b generally resist movement in the x-y plane of the body 12.

Furthermore, as best shown in FIG. 3, each wave garment clip of the first and second sets of wave garment clips 27 a, 27 b has a uniform thickness (t). However, it can be appreciated that the thickness of each wave garment clip relative to each another, or the thickness of the first set of wave garment clips 27 a relative to the second set of wave garment clips 27 b can vary without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1-2, each wave garment clip of the first and second sets of wave garment clips 27 a, 27 b extends vertically down from the body 12 and comprises a set of openings 50. Each wave garment clip of the first and second sets of wave garment clips 27 a, 27 b further comprises a plurality of ridges 28 extending on each side therefrom for securing the garment. Each ridge of the plurality of ridges 28 represents an area along the wave garment clip having an increased width in the x-direction of the x-y plane of the body 12. As such, the plurality of ridges 28 supports an elastic waistband of the undergarment and prevents the undergarment from sliding down the wave garment clip. The set of openings 50 supports the use of tagging guns for attaching, for example, labels and fasteners to the garment.

Furthermore, as also shown in FIG. 2, the length (l) of the first and second sets of wave garment clips 27 a, 27 b is less than the length (L) of the first and second garment clip 26 a, 26 b. However, it can be appreciated that the length (l) of each wave garment clip relative to each other, or the length (l) of the first and second sets of wave garment clips 27 a, 27 b relative to the first and second garment clips 26 a, 26 b, can vary without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

In an exemplary embodiment, a garment is inserted into and wrapped around the first and second garment clips 26 a, 26 b to display the central portion of the garment. The outer portions of the garment extending beyond the first and second garment clips 26 a, 26 b are passed behind the center portion of the garment and secured by the first and second sets of wave garment clips 27 a, 27 b, respectively, so as to conceal the remaining portion of the garment. The garment, and in particular the elastic waistband of the garment is stretched and then secured to the wave garment clip by the plurality of ridges 28. The plurality of ridges 28, aided by the tension from the elastic waistband of the garment, hold the waistband above the plurality of ridges 28 and prevent the garment from sliding downward. The particular wave garment clip selected by the worker from each of the first and second sets of wave garments clips 27 a, 27 b to secure the garment is determined based upon the width of the garment. For example, if the portion of the garment extending beyond the first wave garment clip 26 a is relatively large, the garment may be secured by a wave garment clip from the first set of wave garment clips 27 a that is located closer to the hook 22. However, if the portion of the garment extending beyond the first wave garment clip 26 a is relatively small, the garment may be secured by one of the wave garment clips located closer to the first wave garment clip 26 a. Regardless of the size of the garment, the portions of the garment extending beyond the first and second garment clips 26 a, 26 b should be relatively taught when secured, so as to provide a secure and attractive display.

The inventive plastic garment hanger 10 can be formed of styrene, which provides a clear, virtually transparent polystyrene hanger for maximum display of the garment to be suspended therefrom. Alternatively, the garment hanger 10 can be molded from styrene polypropylene, polypropylene, polyvinychloride, ABS or other suitable thermoplastics and mixtures thereof. For additional reinforcement, K resin can be added to the plastic material. The preferred material, polystyrene, has a Flexural Modulus, MPa, of 3,170, taken from CONCISE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF POLYMER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, p. 1117.

Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to various specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the hanger illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. 

1. A multiple wave clip wraparound garment hanger, comprising: a body having a first arm and a second arm extending laterally outward in opposing directions to a first end and a second end, respectively; a hook extending upward from the body for suspending the garment hanger from a support; a first garment clip secured to the first arm at the first end and a second garment clip secured to the second arm at the second end; and a plurality of wave garment clips secured to the body inward of the first and second ends, wherein each wave garment clip of the plurality of wave garment clips comprises at least one ridge protruding therefrom for securing a garment.
 2. The garment hanger of claim 1, wherein each wave garment clip is substantially flexible and permits deflection in a direction into and out of a plane of the body.
 3. The garment hanger of claim 1, wherein each wave garment clip extends vertically down from the body.
 4. The garment hanger of claim 1, wherein each wave garment clip comprises a set of openings.
 5. The garment hanger of claim 1, wherein the first garment clip, the second garment clip and the plurality of wave garment clips are integrally molded with the body.
 6. The garment hanger of claim 1, wherein the first and second garment clips each comprise: a vertical support member vertically extending from the first and second arms at the first and second ends, respectively; a cantilever mount connecting the vertical support member to an inner support member, the inner support member extending vertically down from the body; and a first mouth defined by the vertical support member and the inner support member for guiding a garment into the first and second garment clips.
 7. The garment hanger of claim 6, further comprising a first toothed section disposed along the inner edge of the vertical support member and a second toothed section disposed along an outer edge of the inner support member, wherein the first toothed section and the second toothed section oppose each other to form a garment receiving channel that grasps and retains the garment.
 8. The garment hanger of claim 7, further comprising a web adjacent to the vertical support member.
 9. The garment hanger of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wave garment clips comprises a different thickness than the thickness of the body.
 10. The garment hanger of claim 1, wherein the garment hanger comprises at least one injection molded plastic selected from the group consisting of styrene, styrene polypropylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, nylon, K resin and acrylics.
 11. A multiple wave clip wraparound garment hanger comprising: a body having a first arm and a second arm extending laterally outward in opposing directions to a first end and a second end, respectively; a hook extending upward from the body for suspending the garment hanger from a support; a first garment clip secured to the first arm at the first end and a second garment clip secured to the second arm at the second end; and a first set of wave garment clips and a second set of wave garment clips separated by an open section and secured to the body inward of the first and second ends, respectively, wherein each wave garment clip of the first and second sets of wave garment clips comprises at least one ridge protruding therefrom for securing a garment.
 12. The garment hanger of claim 11, wherein each wave garment clip is substantially flexible and permits deflection in a direction into and out of a plane of the body.
 13. The garment hanger of claim 11, wherein each wave garment clip extends vertically down from the body.
 14. The garment hanger of claim 11, wherein each wave garment clip comprises a set of openings.
 15. The garment hanger of claim 11, wherein the first and second garment clips each comprise: a vertical support member vertically extending from the first and second arms at the first and second ends, respectively; a cantilever mount connecting the vertical support member to an inner support member, the inner support member extending vertically down from the body; and a first mouth defined by the vertical support member and the inner support member for guiding a garment into the first and second garment clips.
 16. The garment hanger of claim 15, further comprising a first toothed section disposed along the inner edge of the vertical support member and a second toothed section disposed along an outer edge of the inner support member, wherein the first toothed section and the second toothed section oppose each other to form a garment receiving channel that grasps and retains the garment.
 17. The garment hanger of claim 16, further comprising a web adjacent to the vertical support member.
 18. The garment hanger of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the first and second sets of wave garment clips is less than the thickness of the body and less than the thickness of the first and second garment clips.
 19. The garment hanger of claim 1, wherein the garment hanger comprises at least one injection molded plastic selected from the group consisting of styrene, styrene polypropylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, nylon, K resin and acrylics.
 20. A multiple wave clip wraparound garment hanger, comprising: a body having a first arm and a second arm extending laterally outward in opposing directions to a first end and a second end, respectively; a hook extending upward from the body for suspending the garment hanger from a support; a first U-shaped garment clip secured to the first arm at the first end and a second U-shaped garment clip secured to the second arm at the second end; and a first set of wave garment clips and a second set of wave garment clips separated by an open section and secured to the body inward of the first and second ends, respectively, wherein the first and second sets of wave garment clips have a thickness different from the thickness of the body to permit deflection in a direction into and out of a plane of the body, and each wave garment clip of the first and second sets of wave garment clips comprises at least one ridge protruding therefrom for securing a garment. 